The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1887-07-14
MORE FLAG TALK.
DAVIS WRITES A
LETTER


LETTER
Regarding the Proposed Return of the
Battle Emblems. The Roman Idea
as Applied to the Late Tempest in
the Teapot.
The Baltimore Sun has the follow
ing letter from Jefferson Davis in ref
erence to the return of the Southern
battle flags: eff the object now be to
unite the people of the North and
South as brethren in the Union, as a
means to that end, every sign of past
conflict should, as far as practicable,
be ohliterated To retain as point
of pride flag captured IN battle by
either the Union, or Confederate SOL
diers, would be equivalent to renewed
exultation of triumph by one or the
other, and surely not step toward
the restoration of peace. Flags cap
tured from foreign enemy may be
retained as trophies after peace, but
here a cessation Of hostilities is not
pretended to be equivalent to fratern-
ization 1 have heard of various in
stances in which Southern soldiers
having retained flags captured in bat
| tie, did, after the war, send them back
to the organization from which they
were captured, land have heard of no
instance when such trophy has been
displayed at reunion of Southern
soldiers to manifest their success in
battle over their Northern brethren.
Our men fought for principle, and
that they have not surrendered, but
rather hopelessly lived to see the good
sense of the Northern men revert to
the good teachings of their sires and
re establish the Government accord
ing to the Constitution ON which it
was founded. That Is the only vic
tory which would be to them and
their children thing to be priced
and glorified in.
"When the Confederate Govern
ment evacuated Richmond, many
flags captured in battle were deposit
ed in the War Office in Richmond
So far as l know they were left there
and found by the United States troops
when they entered the city. This
would at least exhibit proof of the
fact the South did not wish to treasure
| up such evidence of any triumphs it
had over the North When Wash
ington received the surrender of Corn
wallis at Yorktown he required the
British colors to be delivered to hin
in cases. The United States Govern
ment presented those flags to Gen
Washington, ard he left them t.
George Washington Park Custis, BY
whom they were intrusted to me whel
1 was Secretary of War, and left il
the War Office at Washington. Tho
E these were foreign flags and signs of /
very memorable occasion, the thel
United States Government did no
deem them of sufficient Importance t.
be exhibited as trophies of a victor.
over former enemy. but presente'
, them to the soldier to whom they hat
been surrendered.
. "The South has manifested no de
/ sire to have possession of the flag
l., lost in battle; their value departe'
: when they were surrendered, and tn
excitement which has been creates
1 over the proposition to return, both tt
, the North and South, the flags the
r had lost in battle seems very like
/, tempest in teapot. Whether the
e should lie and be consumed by moth
/, in the United States War Office or b
/ returned to their former owners, hf
e one element Of value which is thu
e tne restoration would be declaratio
: such as the old Romans made, th;
s there should be no triumph for vi
r tory won in civil war. So far as
: should express the feeling of restore
l. fraternity, it would be an advan'
e toward that condition which all re;
s. sonable men will recognize as desi
l. able among those who are to live t
d | pether."